Pol Capt Ying Yong Chuaikit of Kathu Police responded to a call this morning about a body found at a small hotel on Phra Metta Pung Mueang Sai Kor Rd and reported to the scene – room number 216 on the second floor of a multi-storey shophouse.
Pol Capt Ying Yong was accompanied by fellow investigators, Kusoldham rescue workers and Dr Suchada Vichutanon of Patong Hospital.
Authorities found the body of a man on a bed inside the room.
The deceased was named as Italian national, Nicola Rauseo, 45*.
Next to his body, there was a note written on a sheet of A4 paper, which authorities said was written in Italian and English languages, but declined to elaborate further on the note's contents.
Authorities did not note any signs of a struggle or foul play, in the room or on the man's body, which was estimated to have been dead for no less than two hours and subsequently transported to Patong Hospital for further examination.
Police questioned a 15-year-old minor who was identified as a dependent child*** of the deceased, who reported last seeing the deceased at around 8.30pm on Friday (April 22), when the minor said Mr Rauseo had asked for the minor to help look after the hotel's service counter so that he could go up to rest in his room.
The person who discovered the man's body on Saturday morning, who was named by police as the wife**** of the deceased, was reportedly away on business in Chumphon, and had just returned to Patong this morning (April 23) at 6.50am.
When Mr Rauseo failed to answer knocks on his door, the woman** said she used her spare key to open the door, and subsequently found his body, police said.
The woman** reported that Mr Rauseo did not drink alcohol, but smoked, drank a lot of soft drinks, had a sleeping disorder and had undergone cervical surgery in the previous 3-4 months, police said.
The investigation has yet to be concluded.
"We will not pursue this case further untill the cause of death has been confirmed by the hospital, or we recieve a direct request from his immediate Italian family," said Pol Capt Ying Yong.
*Mr Rauseo, whose name was initially transliterated as Mr Russo, would have turned 46 on May 18, 2016.
**The name of the woman who found the body of Mr Rauseo has been removed from this story as per request to not violate her privacy.
***The word used to describe the minor's relationship with the deceased was Luke Lieng (ลูกเลียง) which implies that the minor was a dependent of the deceased, though not necesirly by legal order or obligation.
****According to Pol Capt Ying Yong, the marriage between Mr Rauseo and the woman** was not registered.